Latch mechanism



F. A. BEST LATCH MECHANISM Aug. 5, 1947.

Filed April 25, 1945 Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTA OFFICE.

18. Claims.

Tnisinvention relates. to improvements in'latch mechanisms' for closures such as' doorsv and the like. More particularly, theinvention relates to a., latch mechanism requiringrior its release the operation of two spaced parts, the closure with vvhichy such latch mechanism is used remaining closed. andlatched ifA but one of said parts is operated.

The present-invention hasv forits primary object the provision of. a latch mechanism of the foregoing nature which is characterized by its structural simplicity, its economy oi"l manufactureandv its operating'performance.

A more speciiic object ofthe present invention is-the provision of a latch member. having a plurality of spaced `push.buttons or equivalent parts which must be depressed ory equivalently operatedtoeffect the release of the latch mechanism and the consequent opening of the closure with which such mechanism is used, the push buttons or equivalent, parts being operable either simultaneously or in sequence for latch release. pur.- poses.

Aiurther object of the present. invention is the provision of alatch mechanismwhich includes a pivoted latcln'ng leverv which servesupon the release ofthe latch mechanism,` as a convenient pull member for opening the closurevvithwhich the latchmechanism is. used. As a result,. it is unnecessary toy provide such closure with. a sep.- arate handle or the like for` door-opening purposes.

A further object of. the present invention is the provision of a latch mechanism which requires, for theV swinging movement of. its pivoted latching lever, an opening or cavity in the closure with which the mechanism is used, but which opening or cavityl is closed by said lever, with the closure having a. substantially smooth external surface, when. the latching lever is in latching position.

A: further object of the present invention is the provision of. a latch. mechanism. in Which the spaced release buttons are carried `by one end por.- tion of. the pivoted latching lever of such. mechanism, the said push buttons and saidlever end portion being substantially flush with the outer surface of the closure with which the mechanism is used when said latching lever is in latching position.

A further object of. the present invention is the provision of a latch mechanism. which includes a latching lever pivotally mountedon the closure with which the mechanism is used, said lever when in' latching; position having one end. por. tion. thereof: projecting beyond the: closure tor closurelatchin-g, purposes, the other end. portionio-f said lever carrying detent means for. releasable de..- tention by said closure to thereby releasably re.- tain the lever in latching. position, and which mechanism includes means operable. to release the datent means fromv suchdetention to thereby permit the latching lever to.y be swung. out. of latching position and the closurethereby opened.

Further. objects oi. the. present invention and many of its practical advantages will be referred toinor willl be evident from the. following description. ofone embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,v in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a, Wallv structure having an opening normally closed by ahingedidoor, the door being provided with a latch mechanismv embodying the presentA invention and being shownin unlatched and partlyopen'v position;

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal sectional View of the parts of Fig. l, the door being latched in closed position by the present latch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is aside elevational View, with'A portions broken away andin section, and with the door closed andlatehed; and

Figs; 4i to 7 inclusive are detail vertical sec.- tional views, on the lineslB-IL -5, and ll-Jl, respectively, of'Fi'g. 2

Before the latch mechanism hereL illustrated is-specil'cally` described, it is to. be understood' that the inventionv here involved isk not limited tothe structural details or. arrangement of parts here shown, as latch mechanisms embodying the present invention. mayA take. various.Y forms. It also is to be. understood-f that the phraseology or terminology herein: employed is for purposes of description and not of. limitation, thescope oi the present invention beingv denoted by the. subioined claims.

Although latch mechanisms embodying the present invention may be used with various doors or. other.` closures, such' mechanisms are particularly usefuly with doors which must or. shouldnot have, WhenY closed, any protruding; parts, and Where it` isl necessary or desirable to preventopening. of the door bythe actuation of a single release part. One example of such a door is the inspection door in. the wing or in the fuselage of an aeroplane or the like, it there being necessary or desirable to avoid any protruding door parts and to have for. the release of such doei` two spacedY parts requiring simultaneous or sequence depression. Thus, should aprolectile or the like Striieand depress. one. ci" the release parte, the

door would remain closed and latched. For purposes of illustration, therefore, the latch mechanism here shown is applied to such an inspection door.

In the accompanying drawings, '2d designates a wall structure having an opening 2l normally closed by an inspection door 22, the door being hinged at 23 for forward (outward) swinging movement. To normally maintain the door in closed and latched position, the door has associated therewith a latching lever 24 which is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on the door for swinging movement through an elongated opening or slot 25 with which the door is provided. As here shown (see Fig. l), the outer end of the door slot 26 is adjacent the free swinging edge 21 of the door, the longitudinal axis of the slot preferably and here being substantially normal to such edge. In the present embodiment of the invention, the latching lever 24 is pivotally mounted on the door 22 atthe outer end of the door slot 26. For such mounting, the door is provided at the top and bottom of the outer end of its slot 2B with rearwardly projecting ears 29a and 30a (see Fig. 6) which are suitably apertured to receive and retain the end portions of a pivot pin 32 for the latching lever 24. As here shown, the ears 29a and 3011 are the enlarged outer end portions of rearwardly extending flanges 29 and 3l! of a separate metal plate 33, which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear surface oi the door 22 and which is provided with a slot corresponding to and in registry with the door slot 26.

As here shown, the latching lever 24 is a simple sheet metal member, -with a front wall 36 and top and bottom walls 31 and 38, the latter two walls being suitably apertured (Fig. 6) for the extension therethrough of the pivot pin 32. For increased strength and rigidity and to provide abutments for springs hereinafter described, the inner end portion of the latching lever, namely, that portion thereof whlch lies to the left vof the pivot pin 32 in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, is here provided with a rear wall 39, thereby giving such portion a sturdy box-like form in cross-section, as best shown in Figs. 4, and 7. If desired, of course, the outer end portion of the latching lever, namely, that portion thereof lying to the right of the pivot pin 32 in Figs. l to 3 inclusive, also may have a rear wall to give it a box-like form in cross section, although such portion is here shown as of channel form.

The outer or right end portion of the latching lever 24 is of such length as to extend behind, when the lever is in latching position, that poi'- tion of the wall structure which is adjacent the free edge 21 of the door 22. This outer end portion of the lever constitutes, therefore, its latching head, inasmuch as it cooperates with the wall structure in the latching of the door, as will hereinafter morefully appear. To enable the front 4wall 33 of the levers inner or left end portion to be substantially iiush with the doors outer surface, when the lever is in latching position, the latching head of the lever is rearwardly oiTset, as best shown in Figs. l and 2, and to enable such latching head to resiliently engage the rear surface of the wall structure 20, said head is provided with a resilient compressible bumper 4i. For the retention of said bumper, the front wall 35 of the levers latching head is here provided with a pair of opposed tongues or flanges 42, between which the bumper is confined, the

4 tongues or flanges being convergently disposed, if desired and as here shown.

When th'e door 22 is in closed and latched position, as in all views except Fig. 1, the rearwardly offset latohing head of the lever 24 lies behind the wall structure 20 and the front wall 3S of the levers inner end portion substantially lls the door slot 26, the length and the width oi the iront wall 36 of the levers inner end portion being substantially the same as those of said slot.

'Io releasably retain the latching lever 24 in such latching position, the lever is provided with suitable detent means for releasable detention by the door 22 adjacent the inner end of its slot 26. In order that said detent means will require for the release thereof the operation of two spaced push buttons or equivalent parts, the detent means of the present latch mechanism comprises two separate and independently mounted levers 43 and 44, each of channel-shaped cross `section. and longitudinally disposed within the box-like inner end portion of th'e latching lever 24, as best shown in Figs. 3 and '1. As will be evident from those views, the two detent levers 43 and 44 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the inner end of the inner end portion of the latching lever 24, the pivotal mounting of said detent levers being here effected by the use of a pin 4G (Figs. 3 and 7) extending through suitable apertures in the side walls of the detent levers and into or through suitable apertures in the top and bottom walls 31 and 38 of the latching lever 24. To maintain the detent levers in slightly spaced relationship, the pivot ends of the detent levers are separated by a sleeve 41 upon the pivot pin 48, as best shown in Fig. 1.

At their free or outer ends, the detent levers 43 and 44 are integrally or otherwise suitably provided with tabs which constitute push buttons for eiecting release movement thereof, the push button 49 of the upper detent lever 43 extending downwardly, as in Figs. 1 and 3, and the push button 5B of .the lower detent lever 44 extending upwardly. To conveniently eiiect the desired spacing of said push' buttons, the two detent levers are here shown as of different lengths, the upper lever 43 being somewhat shorter than the lower lever 44. To aiord access to said push buttons, the front wall 35 of the inner end portion of the latching lever 24 is provided with two apertures 52, one for the push button 49 of the detent lever 43, and the other for the push button 50 of the detent lever 44.

By the use of spring or equivalent means presently to be described, the two detent levers are normally caused to assume, within the box-like inner end portion of the latching lever 24, the forwardly inclined positions best shown in Fig. 2. In such positions of said detent levers, the push buttons thereof lie within and substantially completely close the apertures 52 of the latching lever 24, and the forward corner portions 53 of the inner ends of said detent levers project beyond the inner end of the latching lever 24 for individual, releasable detention by a rearwardly extending iiange 54 at the inner edge of the door slot 28. The flange 54, which here constitutes an integral part of the mounting plate 33, is preferably of hard, wear-resistant material, and if a separate member, replacement of it can be readily effected, if that becomes necessary or desirable.

To normally maintain'the detent levers in such forwardly inclined positions relative to the latching lever 24, Wire springs are here utilized, there being one Vfor each detent lever. As best shown in Fig. 7, intermediate portions of these springs are coiled around the pin 46 upon which the detent levers are pivoted, the coils of one spring lying between. the side walls of one of the detent levers and the coils of the other spring lying between the side walls of the other detent lever. Each of these springs has an end'portion 56 engaging the front wall of the detent lever with which it is associated, and an end portion 5"! engaging the rear wall 39 of the latching lever 2a.

From the foregoing description and from the position of the parts in Fig. 2, it will be evident that the latching of the door 22 in closed position is effected by the engagement of the latching head or outer end portion of the latching lever 24 with that portion of the wall structure 2li which is adjacent the free edge El of the door and by thereleasable detention of the forward corner portions 53er the inner ends of the detent levers 43 and lill by the rearwardly extending door ange 54 at the inner end of door slot 26. In order to swing the inner end portion of the latching lever 24 rearwardly (when the door 22 is closed) a sufficient amount to enable the detent lever corner portions 53 to move back of the door flange 54, it is necessary to put under compression the bumper 4l on the latching head or outer end portion of the latching lever-the bumper being in engagement with the wall structure 2S. As the result of such compression of said bumper, the inner end portion of the latching lever automatically swings forwardly upon release actuation of the detent levers, there-by enabling the inner end portion of the latching1ever to serve as a handle in the manual opening of the door.

To release the detent levers from their detention by the door ange 54, the push buttons of said levers are depressed, the depression of such buttons swing the levers in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and freeing their corner portions 53 from detention by the door ange 5ft. The depression of the push buttons can be effected simultaneously or in sequence, the push button 5t* of the detent lever M being first depressed in sequence operation.

To close and latch the door, the inner end portionioi the latching lever 26, may be grasped and the door thereby swung to closed position, flush with the wall structure 2Q. The inner end portion of the latching lever is then swung rearwardly, to position the latching head or outer end portion thereof back of the wall structure 2E and to position the forward corner portions 53 of the detent levers back of the door ange Eli, the front Wall 3S 0f the inner end porti-on of the latching lever being thereby brought into flush relationship with the wall structure 2t and the door slot 26closed.

Due t the springs associated with the detent levers, these levers have their normal forwardly inclined positions relative to the latching lever 2li, positions which cause the inner edges 5S of the side walls of the detent levers to be normally inclined, as best shown in Fig. 2. In the swinging movement of the latching lever to latching position, the inclined edges 5S of the detent levers serve as cams, in their engagement with the side wall surface of the door Ylia-nge 5d, to rock the detent levers about their pivot and to thereby locate the forward corner portions E3 of the detent levers in non-projecting positions relative to the latching lever 2d. When, however, the latching lever reaches latching position, the springs for 6 the detent levers areableto-automatically swing such detent levers totheir normal inclined posi-V tionswithconsequent disposition of the corner portions 53 of such levers back of the door flangeY 54S for releasable detention thereby.

To'open thedoor, it is merely necessary to depress, simultaneously or in sequence, the' push buttons Ite, E'ofthe detent leversto release such levers from detention by the door flange 54. Upon release of the detent levers, the inner end portion of the latching lever 2e swings forwardly, as the result of the compression of the bumper 4 l, a sufrlcientldistance to enable such end portion-of the latching lever to be grasped and thereby used as a` handle in opening the door.

To effectively limit rearward swinging movement of the free edge portion of the door 22, the wall structure 20 may be and here is'provided with suitable stop portions 5! in the outer corners of the opening 2l normally closed lby said door, thereby insuring that said door, when closed, will be substantially flush with the outer surface Aof said. wall structure.

To those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, further features and advantages of latch mechanisms embodying such invention will bev evident from the foregoing description of one, embodimentv thereof.

What I claim is.:

1. Latch mechanism forv a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for Swinging movement into and out of latching position,A said lever. when in latching position having one end. portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasabley detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to release said detent means from detention by said closure and comprising a pluralityv of spaced parts each requiring operation to effect the release of said detent means.

2. Latch mechanism for a. closure which. is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for nor.- mally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and outof latching position-,said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said. closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, and detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, said detent means having a plurality of ispaced parts each requiring operation to effect the release of said detent means.

3. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, and a pair of detent members carried by the other end portion of said lever for individual releasable detention by said closure-When saidleverk is in latching position, said detent 'mem- 7 bers being separately operable to effect their release from detention by said closure.

4. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, and a pair of pivotally mounted detent members carried by the other end portion of said lever for individual releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, each of said detent members having a part operable to effect its release, whereby the operation Vof both of such parts is necessary to effect the release of said detent members from detention by said closure.

5. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure, for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, said detent means being automatically detained by said closure upon the movement of said lever into latching position, and means operable to release said detent means from detention by said closure and comprising a plurality of spaced parts each requiring operation to effect the release of said detent means.

6. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, a pair of detent levers each pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof to the other end portion of said latching lever for individual releasable detention by said closure when the said lever is'in latching position, and means on the free end portion'of each of said detent levers operable to effect the release of such lever from detentionV by rsaid closure, whereby the operation of both of said operable means is necessary to eiect the release of the two detent levers` from detention by said closure.

'7. Latch mechanism for an apertured closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechainsm comprising a latching lever Divotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent the aperture thereof, for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof lying 4within theY aperture of said closure, detent means carried by the last mentioned end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to vrelease said detent means from detention by said closure and comprising a plurality of spaced parts each requiring operation to effect the release of said detent means.

8. Latch mechanism for an apertured closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing a opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent the aperture thereof for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof lying within and substantially closing the aperture of said closure, detentmeans carried by the last mentioned end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means carried by said detent means and operable to effect the release thereof from detention by said closure, the release means for said detent means comprising a plurality of depressible spaced parts each requiring depression to effect the release of said detent means.

9. Latch mechanism for a closure having an apertured front surface and which closure is hingedlyrmounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, the closure when in closing position being substantially flush with said wall structure, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent the aperture thereof for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof lying within the aperture of said closure and substantially ush with the front surface of the closure, detent means carried by and movable relative to the last mentioned end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to release said detent means from detention by said closure, said release means for said detent means normally being substantially iiush with the front surface of said closure.

l0. Latch mechanism for an apertured closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotaily mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent the aperture thereof for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof lying within the aperture of said closure, the last mentioned end portion of said lever serving as a pull handle for the closure when the lever is out of latching position, pivoted detent means carried by the last mentioned end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to effect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure, and comprising a plurality of spaced parts carried by said detent means and each such part requiring operation to effect the release of said detent means.

1l. Latch mechanism for an apertured closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure ,for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent the aperture thereof for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof rearwardly oiiset and projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with and rearwardly of said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof Vlying within the aperture of said closure in substantially the plane of the closure, detent means carried by the last mentioned end portion of said lever in thegeneral plane of such end portion for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to effect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure, said release means comprising a plurality of spaced parts each requiring operation to eiect the vrelease of said detent means and each being located in the general plane of the last mentioned end portion of said lever.

12. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, resilient means normally urging said detent means into position for detention by said closure, said detent means being movable out of such position by engagement with said closure upon swinging movement of said lever toward latching position and said resilient means automatically returning said detent means to such position, for the releasable detention of said detent means by said closure, when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to effect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure when the latching lever is in latching position to thereby enable the latching lever to be swung out of latching position and the closure thereby opened.

13. Latch' mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position havingone end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, resilient means normally urging said detent means into position for detention by said closure, said detent means being movable out of such position by the engagement of said closure with a cam-like part of said detent means upon swinging movement of the latching lever toward latching position and said resilient means automatically returning said detent means to such position, for the releasable detention of said detent means by said closure, when said lever is in latching position, and means operable to effect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure when the latching lever is in, latching position to thereby enable the latching lever to be 10 swung out of latching position and the closure thereby opened.

14. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portionof said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, the last mentioned end portion of said leverl havking a front wall behind which said detent means iscarried, and means carried by said detent means `and operable to elect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure, the front wall of the last-mentioned end portion of said lever being apertured to afford access to the means operable to release said detent means from detention by said closure.

15. Latch mechanism for a closure having an apertured front wall and which closure is hingedly mounted von a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, the closure when in closing position being substantially ilush with said wall structure, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure adjacent thev aperture thereof for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having an end portion projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure and having the other end portion thereof lying within the aperture of said closure and substantially flush with the iront Wall of the closure, detent means carried by th'e last mentioned end portion oi said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, said last mentioned lever end portion having a front wall behind which said detent means is carried, and a push button on said detent means depressible to effect the release of said detent means from detention by said closure, said lever front wall having an opening to afford access to said push button and said push button being normally ilush with said lever front wall.

16. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever when in latching position having an end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall structure, detent means carried by the other end portion of said lever for releasable detention by said closure when said lever is in latching position, means operable to release said detent means from detention by said closure, and resilient means carried by the first mentioned end portion of said lever and effective, by its engagement with said wall structure, to swing said lever out of latching position upon the release of said detent means from detention by said closure.

17. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a wall structure for normally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching posi- 1 l tion, said lever when in latching position having an end portion thereof projecting beyond said closure for latching cooperation with said wall strucf ture, detent means carried by the otherend portion of said lever for releasable detention by said l closure when said lever is in latching position, means operable-t0 release said detent means from detention by said closure, and compressible resilient means carried by the iirst mentonedend portion of said lever and effective, as the result of vits compression between said lever end portion and said wall structure when the lever is in latching position, to swingsaid lever out of latching position upon the release of saiddetent means from detention by said closure.

18. Latch mechanism for a closure which is hingedly mounted on a Wall structure for norvmally closing an opening therein, said latch mechanism comprising a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said closure for swinging movement into and out of latching position, said lever Whenin latching position having one end portion thereof projecting beyond said 'closure'for latching'cooperation with said wall means, said parts being operable simultaneously or in Sequence.

FRANK A. BEST.

anFERENCEsY CITED The following references arepf record in the file of this patent:

Flugsport (German publication) Nov. 23, 1939,

zonage 552. Y (Copy in Div. 20, under Class 292- 

